2021 Volnay 1er Cru Les Taillepieds, Domaine de Montille

• Style: Refined, silky Pinot Noir
• Taste: Floral, spicy, dark berry with graceful tannins
• Food: Roast dinners, game, mushroom, beef, stews
• Occasion: Gifting, cellar worthy
• Serve: Now or age 10+ years, 13% ABV

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Medium-bodied and refined, this wine opens with floral and spicy notes—orange rind, dark berry, peony, baking chocolate—then unfolds across the palate with muscular yet graceful tannins. The silken texture conceals structure that rewards patience but doesn't demand it. The 2021 vintage, shaped by brutal April frosts that concentrated surviving fruit into berries of exceptional acidity and freshness, delivers purity and restraint in every sip.

The Winery — Domaine de Montille

One of the Côte d'Or's most historic estates, now in ninth-generation hands under Etienne de Montille, who inherited and rebuilt the domaine through two decades of vineyard expansion and biodynamic investment. His late father Hubert gained renown for estate-bottled, long-lived wines when 90% of the region's output went to négociants. Etienne, trained initially as a lawyer, proved a savvy buyer: the domaine now spans 37 hectares across 35 separate appellations. An early organic advocate, he introduced these principles in 1995 and adopted biodynamic practices in 2005. Working with chef de cave Brian Sieve, he crafts wines honouring his father's legacy of refinement while adding silkier textures for earlier drinking—without sacrificing ageing potential. The 2021 comes from south-facing Taillepieds ('cut feet,' named for sharp stones on this steep slope), where 80-year-old vines on light clay and gravel capture Volnay's hallmark fragrance and delicacy. Whole-bunch fermentation at 90% preserves primary aromatics; just 35% new oak ensures fruit leads.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

This is Burgundy made for the table. Drink it now alongside roasted duck, game birds, aged cheese, mushroom and truffle dishes, or beef and steak. The wine's refined structure and silken tannins make it equally at home with hearty stews and braises. Its purity and balance also make it an exceptional gift for serious wine lovers. Alternatively, cellar it confidently for another decade, as the acidity and structure built during the challenging 2021 vintage will develop gracefully. At 13% ABV, it rewards patient collection and honours the estate's tradition of wines that age beautifully. Explore our selections of fine Volnay, Pinot Noir, and France for more expressions of Burgundy's enduring appeal.